The Great Knitaway 2017

Okay, here we go, I have finally decided on my big challenge for 2017.

There are lots and lots of things I want to make, things for my children, family and friends. There are also so many patterns I want to try out.

After being so very, very lucky to be gifted wooly items through the generosity in the Instagram knitting community and knitters pay it forward movement, I want to gift to those who need it most.

So in supporting my favourite charity Knit One, Give One, I am going to knit 10 items on my want to knit list, and gift these to KOGO by June 30 2017.

Some Rules;

* I can't knit and gift an item made from same pattern twice! 10 different items, 10 different patterns.
* I can't knit a pattern I've made previously, it all has to be patterns I'm making for the first time.
* I still have to make the other items on my list, knits for birthdays, weddings etc.
* All 10 Items have to be finished and delivered to Knit One Give One by June 30 2017.

My plan is to make beautiful, one of a kind items that will help lift the spirits of someone I have never, and will never meet.

If you've been following my blog for a while, you'll know that we once received the gift of a beautiful handmade quilt from an unknown quilter at the quilters guild. It was for our little girl when she was just a newborn, recovering from her first open-heart surgery in hospital. This really had an amazing effect on our mood and outlook. We will cherish the quilt forever, so I know firsthand what a difference something handmade with love can make.

Do you have any suggestions? Any patterns that have caught your eye? Please let me know!

Want to play too? I'd love for you to join me! Follow the rules above, gifting your items to any charity you desire. Play and follow along on Instagram using #knitaway2017

2016 Handmade Challenge?

I know I know, I barely scraped through by the skin of my teeth last year, however this year, I'm changing the rules. Make 12 things, don't bother making a list at the beginning, just get making.

By the end of the year, have made 12 things that you want to make. I'm pretty sure I can accomplish that. I'm pretty sure I made about 30 things all up last year when you count all those that were not part of the Handmade Challenge.

I've even started already. My husband has some pretty ratty scarves lying around (not handmade), and since I didn't get to make him one last year, that's the first project I've leapt into this year. I have a list of things to make as long as my arm already and I'm excited. Ah the new year and the new possibilities.

I have some patterns and kits I bought last year that I never got to and I have a Craftsy crochet course waiting for me too. I'm looking forward to that and giving you all a review.

Don't worry, if it looks like it's getting too easy, I'll throw in another challenge to spice things up and get the creative juices flowing.

What are you looking forward to making this year?

Bears House - Item 11

As it's Christmas Eve, I'm not going to sit down and write a coherent blog post, however item 11 is complete and here is a picture;

A house under the tree

Thank you everyone who has been following my adventures this year. I have one more item on my Handmade Challenge List, my bolero, which I hope to complete before the New Year. It's however in many pieces and I have no idea how long it's going to take me to finish it. Hopefully less than 7 days!

In the mean time, wishing you all a lovely and safe Christmas / Holiday.

xxx

Handmade Challenge - December Update

Yes I'm still panicking, however I have stopped running about screaming and decided to focus my panicked energies on getting things done.

After crocheting approximately 5.5 metres around my Christmas Tree Skirt (original tutorial), my husband gently suggested that I had made the skirt, and the pretty little snowflake detail could be left for another year. Yes! Genius husband, tick.

Tree Skirt in time for Christmas (Just)

It's by no means perfect, I of course got the hang of the crocheting by the time I got to the end. It's a darn improvement on the previous skirt I had made. Turns out it was a mini skirt! (afraid I couldn't even rustle up a picture from previous years, as it was so small, it was always covered in presents!)

Definitely not perfect!

Then there were 3.

I have been madly knitting of an evening to get the bolero finished. Thus far I have the back and two sides. I'm not thrilled with this pattern. It's terribly hard to follow and if the bolero turns out not to be hideously lopsided, I will be thrilled.

I have a half 'furnished' the Three Bear's House (this will all become clear, when I've finished the darn thing). However the most exciting thing is, that I finally made a start on the card table tent on the weekend that has just past. The one item on my list that has been scaring the pants off me. It has no windows or a door yet...

22 days remaining, 3 items to go

I'd really love to see what you have been making this year. Shoot me an email or share on Facebook.

Handmade Challenge - November Update - Panic

Ahhhaaahhhhhhhhahhhhh PANIC!

I still have 4 things left on my Handmade Challenge List, two items part done (not even half done) and another two not even yet attempted... Oh no, oh no...

I'm making the Three Bear's House for my little fabric dolls house. I had these gorgeous Goldilocks and the Three Bears peg dolls made by the very talented Sarah from Bear & Co. So now I am attempting to create a house worthy of them.

They are so sweet!

Based on a storybook from when I was young

Part of a bolero

The bolero is possibly 1/3 complete, probably even less than that.

I have been trying to find a piece of felt large enough to make the Christmas tree skirt with no luck.

I do have a large sheet to cut up to make the card table tent. Does it count if I just put the sheet over the table and call it a tent? Perhaps I can sew something to it that looks like a window...

If I can pull this off, it'll be some kind of Christmas miracle.

Is anyone doing any better on their challenge list?

Handmade Challenge - October Update

Okay, nobody freak out, but I have actually sewn something, and it is actually on the challenge list! Hooray! 

Apron Sewn by Me!

I finally made the child's apron for Sophie from The Haby Goddess Kit. It's not the best sewing job I will confess, however I'm pretty certain it's not going to fall apart, so gold star to me!

I was nearly able to say that I managed to sew the entire thing and not swear at the sewing machine once. However, with less than 10cm to sew on one of the straps, the bobbin ran out. Then the troubles began...

Close-up

Anxious to get sewing again, I then spent 10 minutes swearing at the sewing machine for stuffing everything up. It was in fact I, in my haste, who had failed to re-thread the machine properly. Sorry sewing machine, I hope you will forgive me.

Now that I have the sewing machine out and going, I am pretty keen to sew things, the only issue being time...

A little Birthday Make

Time to blog, time to make for birthdays and Christmas, time to run my little business, I should also probably cook, clean and look after the children in there somewhere too!

I still have 4 things remaining on my Handmade Challenge List, which feels as though it may as well be 400. As I write, there are apparently only 71 sleeps until Christmas... I have a feeling I'll be sleeping less!

What have you been making? Share so we can all see!

Handmade Challenge - September Update

I don't want to panic anyone, but... 

PANIC STATIONS!! I have only inched marginally closer towards achieving anything off my handmade challenge list, and my 'to make list' is growing.

For my handmade challenge I still have to make an apron, a card table tent, a bolero, a dollhouse and a Christmas tree skirt.

I have started the bolero, I have cut out the pattern for the apron, and have collected together all the items I need for the doll house. I have nothing for the tree skirt or the tent.

Things added to my 'To Make List' include; Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, invitations, birthday baking, not to mention the orders that keep popping up from my online store.

Nobody panic! Except me, I'm panicking.

How are you going with your list?

Handmade Challenge - August Update

Ahhhhhhhh! It's August, it's August?! Oh, my, goodness. I don't know What happened to July. Did anyone else miss July completely?

I didn't achieve anything off my Handmade Challenge List in July and I'm panicking. There are only 20 more weeks until Christmas, and I can pretty much write off December anyway. So in reality, I have 16 more weeks to make; A Card Table Tent, A Bolero, An Apron, A Fabric Dollhouse and a Christmas Tree Skirt. It all started out so promisingly...

The good news is, it's just over a week into August, and I have finally managed to finish Sophie's cardigan, hooray! Thankfully it's a little large on her, so it's going to be the perfect spring cardigan.

Not perfect, but very sweet!

The pattern wasn't terribly well written, although lack of sleep doesn't help. It wasn't a complex pattern per se, it was just a little difficult to figure out where I was up to. I used Patons Dreamtime Merino 4 ply and it is so ridiculously soft and machine washable!

Sophie in her cardigan.. oooh so squishy!

My apologies for the state of this post and the photos. Since my last post, our house was broken into and (among other items) our computer and camera were stolen. So this post has been written on an ancient laptop my husband brought home from work (that keeps crashing on me) and the photos I hastily snapped on my Mum's camera during a quick visit.

How is your list going? Did you make anything in July?

Handmade Challenge - June Update

Well here we are. We are halfway through the year, and with much determination, I have (just) made half of the items off my Handmade Challenge List.

The latest item to be marked off is the little tea bags. They looked simple and innocent, however I found them to be for more complicated.

Fancy a cup of tea?

I have been working late into the night, and this was the only photo I managed. I did make six tea bags in total, not just the one! However the following morning, when I had hoped to take proper photos, the kids decided they just couldn't wait to make multiple cups of tea. Needless to say they don't quite look like they once did, however they have been a HUGE hit with the kids, and therefore worth every swear word.

Six Items Down

The items that now remain all seem to be quite big ones, and sewing, so much sewing. I knew I would do that.

Six To Go

 

I feel I am in desperate need of a cheer squad. How do you motivate yourself when everything seems impossible?

Handmade Challenge April Update

It's May?! Wow, we got here fast. I didn't actually make anything off my list in April. I figured I already have 5 in the bag, I could take a little break (I know I'll pay for this come December!)

Here is a re-cap of what I've made thus far;

1. Crochet Cake   2. Crochet Pear   3. Love Heart Pinata   4. Royal Icing Cookies   5. Easter Bunny Egg Cosies

Instead of making anything from my Handmade Challenge List, here are a few other projects I have been working on in April;

A mobile for a Labyrinth themed baby nursery! I LOVE the film Labyrinth, and when our friends announced that they were going Labyrinth for baby #2, I just had to be involved.

Goblin King Mobile

The pattern for the owl is called The Obligatory Owl by Sara Elizabeth Kellner and can be downloaded for free on ravlery.

I have also started making felt signs which I am looking to place in an online Etsy shop! It all started because Amy at My Little Play Pack was looking for some playroom signs and I couldn't bring myself to get rid of my accucut machine.

These 'Play' banners (pink and blue options) will be available only through My Little Play Pack. However once our little girl is through her final heart surgery, I am going to get into full swing of production of some other designs I have been working on.

So that's where I am up to. How is your handmade challenge list progressing?

Easter Bunny Egg Cosies

It's Easter this week! Well one Easter. Being a half Greek family, we celebrate Easter twice if Greek Easter happens to be on a different date. I managed to be organised enough this year to have made a few Easter Bunny Egg Cosies for 1st Easter, and even knocked off Item #4 on my Handmade Challenge list!

These little critters were quite easy once I got the knack, it's always a bit tricky picking up double pointed needles if you haven't used them for a little while. If you've never used DPN's and are a little afraid of them, don't be. Take a look at this little video that helped me get on the right track.

The pattern calls for worsted weight yarn. As I live in Australia, I don't have ready access to that particular size. So I delved into my 8ply stash and used 3.25mm needles. This made for a smaller cosy (not fit for a Cadbury Creme Egg I'm afraid), but thankfully Lindt make an egg that is eggsactly the right size!

Hippity Hoppity Easter's on it's way!

That's now 5 items off my challenge list! Almost halfway there. I really really should sew something next... not likely. I have a feeling we'll get to December, and there will be my sewing projects, glaring at me, unfinished, in the corner.

If you fancy a crack at an egg cosy yourself, there's plenty of time to get a couple made before the Easter Bunny comes a calling. Have you got any handmade gifts ready or in the works for Easter?

Handmade Challenge March Update

Another party done and dusted, and two more items ticked off my Handmade Challenge List for 2015!! Phew.

I'll start with item #2, the Love Heart Pinata. This was a HUGE success with the kids! I was actually very surprised. Although I shouldn't be, the party was made up of mainly boys from 1-4 years, who were happily lining up to bash something pretty with a stick! In the end, hubby (with Sophie's help) split it straight down the middle.

The finished Pinata

It was pretty easy to make, I ended up using an amalgamation of ideas rather than copying the original post I found.

1. I gaffer taped two balloons together to form a heart shape.

2. We then covered the balloons with strips of paper 
using homemade paper mache glue. All three kids helped (Sophie ripped the paper). I left a gap at the bottom, so I could later pop both balloons, remove and then fill.

Arthur giving it a good crack!

3. For the filling, I chose a whole lot of bright, sparkly and light things! Mainly stickers, some ribbons and cardboard hearts. I didn't want a large lolly falling out and clonking a toddler in the head. 

4. After the glue had dried, I punched two holes in either side of the top of the heart and threaded fishing line through to hang it from. Popped in the filling, patched up the hole, then covered the whole thing in post-it notes. I thought this step would be easy, but the post-it's wouldn't stick. So I ended up using good old clag glue.

I did all the stages over a number of days... weeks, so it wasn't too taxing, and being able to get the kids involved was good, so I'd probably do it again, mainly because the kids loved it so much on the day.

Cookies the night before!

The next item I can tick off is #10 Heart Cookies. I won't be bothered making these again in a hurry. The cookies themselves were very yummy. I was super excited when I was icing them as they were turning out so great, okay I wasn't going to win any awards, but I thought they looked pretty cool. Then, as it was about 11:30 at night, I boxed them all up to photograph the next day.

The next day... low and behold, the icing had bled and they looked nothing like they had the night before. I am quite sure that I didn't do enough research into royal icing and perhaps the recipe I used wasn't the right one or I should have used different colouring or more icing sugar. If I ever attempt again, I will look into it further.

Cookies the following day

However, the rules of the Handmade Challenge are clear, chose 12 items and make them. They don't have to be perfect, or even close to perfect! So please remember, that as long as you attempt, even if your stuffed cow ends up looking more like a stuffed goose, you've made it and you can cross it off!

How are you going with your Handmade Challenge? Have you had any disasters yet? Or perhaps triumphs?! Don't forget to share.

A Dino-Four Birthday Party

My (big) little man turns 4 today! 4 years have gone by in the blink of an eye. We had a little party for him on the weekend and dinosaurs were requested. Keeping things as simple as possible, this is what we (I) came up with;

Handmade Dino gift wrap and card

Dino-tastic balloons

The very very cute dino card comes from My Little Perfect. The wrapping paper was me taking to the paint, paper and foam stampers while the kids weren't in the house! Fun! The balloons are just your ordinary everyday balloons with some spikes and 'plates' stuck on with sticky tape. Felix helped with the cutting out of the shapes.

Dinosaur Dig Birthday Cake

The cake was so easy! Inspiration taken from a Donna Hay magazine, I baked a yummy flourless chocolate cake, then piped white chocolate onto greaseproof paper sat atop a dinosaur fossil outline I had printed. I then just cut off the top layer of the cake, piled it to the side and whacked the chocolate 'fossil' in the middle. Voila, an archeological dig.

Fossil cupcakes, no awards for artistic merit here!

My mum very kindly made the cupcakes for him to take to Kinder, and again I just piped out white chocolate based on pictures of cupcakes that someone else had made! I so love Pinterest and the sharing of ideas and the making of parent's lives easier!

Party hats with paper spikes, yay Pinterest

No rest though, as we now have another event to organise. We have been told that we're going to have to wait at least 4 more weeks for results from Sophie's blood tests, so she won't be having surgery in this time. We have thus given up waiting to have a big belated 1st birthday, and settled on a much smaller affair. This date we have set for just over two weeks from now (not entirely on purpose) 

So now I am needing to complete items number 2 (heart shaped pinata) and 10 (heart shaped cookies) on My Handmade Challenge List in a hurry!

The main issue I currently have, is where am I going to find very pretty post-it notes for the pinata?! (I guess paper would do too!) Oh and what am I going to put in it, and what cake am I going to make?! Any suggestions are most most welcome!

What a pear! A crochet pear that is

I cannot believe it, I am honestly in disbelief that on the 2nd of February, I am two down on my Handmade Challenge, and both of those items are crochet!! I have been so scared of crochet for so long and now, well now, give me a pattern and I'll give it a go!

To compare a pair of pears, mine on the left

So here is number 9 from My Handmade Challenge List. A crochet fruit buddy, or as I prefer (with thanks to Miranda Hart) my Fruit Friend. Pattern courtesy of Mollie Makes issue 44.

This hook is too big, this hook is just right

I started following the pattern in terms of hook size, however it soon became apparent that it was going to be a very holy pear. So I started again with a smaller hook which worked much better, although the finished pear is a little shorter than the size according to the pattern, a petite pear.

The golden thread

 
The gold thread was extremely difficult to work with, I couldn't quite see what I was doing, and I got very confused with all the htr's and tr's and dtr's. I am so glad there was only one leaf and am considering not using it again when I make another. Now what do I do with a whole ball of golden thread?


I tried out a few different options for the mouth, before going with the simple little smile. I then attempted to crochet the cheeks with the gold thread again. It's actually quite funny to think of pears as having cheeks, but rather than continue to struggle, I decided less is more and rubbed on a little white chalk instead.

One happy pear

I think she's pretty darn cute and I am itching to get going on an apple next, every fruit friend needs a friend of their own.

Handmade Challenge; Australia Day Progress Report

We're getting to the pointy end of January, heading into the Australia Day long weekend here in Oz, and I'm still 1 down in My Handmade Challenge and 11 to go. A chance to get started on another item over the weekend?

Australia Day Pav (2013!) Happy Australia Day

There are still distractions though. Felix has requested a dinosaur cake for his birthday which has me madly googling and 'pinning' ideas on Pinterest.

I have sent a little love for the Send a Little Love Swap off to Melanie in the UK. I won't share what I've sent just yet, as I want Melanie to see it first!

At this stage we're still waiting to hear when Sophie will have her heart surgery, so I don't know when her big belated 1st Birthday bash will be. Complete with items #2, heart pinata and #10, love heart cookies.

How are you going with your handmade challenge? Have you finished something yet? I would love to see it, perhaps it will inspire me to stay on the straight and narrow.

Handmade Challenge; Item 1 Complete

Bam! One week in, and my 2015 Handmade Challenge is officially underway (please note, I've started at number 7, just to keep you on your toes) In the New year, I jumped at the chance to sit down with my Suzanne Houghton Designs make it yourself Crochet Cake Kit.

I read the instructions, I watched online videos, I read through other books, and I tried, and tried again until finally something clicked... I was crocheting and there was no stopping me!

A not quite perfect work in progress

No it doesn't look like the picture on the kit. It got wider at the bottom as I worked my way down the sides, I did the frosting wrong on the top and ended up using the top at the bottom, but hey! For my very very first ever crocheted item, I'm pretty thrilled with the results. The kids can tell it's a cake, and it's still in one piece after they've all had a play (even the baby).

My cake on the left V's the packaging on the right

In terms of the kit itself, it is lovely, however I wouldn't recommend it to beginner beginners (like me). I made quite a few mistakes and felt there wasn't enough guidance. I got most of the way through practicing the first piece, when a change of instruction made me realise I had been doing it wrong the whole time.

I would have benefited from some photos showing how each piece should have looked. Also the instruction cards weren't numbered so I managed to get myself in a bit of a pickle with that too!

I can't tell you how thrilled I am though. The New Year has hardly begun and I have already completed one item on My Handmade Challenge List, and ticked off my Handmade New Years Resolution of learning to crochet, although I still have quite a way to go before I would consider myself proficient!

1 down, 11 to go.

Now... what should I do next? Remember, you can join in any time and create your own Handmade Challenge for 2015.

2015 Handmade Challenge

I'm hoping you had a lovely Christmas. We have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves here over the festive season, and I felt it was a good time to launch My Handmade Adventure's 2015 Handmade Challenge.

The rules are simple, I challenge you to;

1. Make a list 12 things that you have really been itching to make. That allows one month for each item, it doesn't even matter if it takes you an hour to make something on the list. 12 items, that's all.

2. Make all 12 of them before December 31st 2015!

See, simple.

Challenge accepted? Comment below with your list of 12 things, or post a link to your list, mine's on Pinterest too, a very easy way to make a list. I'd love to have you play along. You don't need to do them in order, and they don't need to be tricky or time consuming, just handmade.

I know there will be plenty of other things I will make and will want to make, however these are the things I must make in order to triumphantly complete The 2015 Handmade Challenge;

1. Jo Sharp Bolero; for me! I've had the pattern sitting and waiting for 12 months or more. As it's something for me, it keeps going on the back burner. 2015 is the year it will come into being.

2. Heart Shaped Pinata; For the little lady's first birthday. We're going to throw a ripper of a shindig after she's over her last cardiac surgery, so smashing a giant heart seems appropriate!

3. Play Tea Bags; These are on a French website, however they look easy enough to figure out. I'm sure I can manage some for the kiddies kitchen.

4. Easter Bunny Egg Cosy; These were on my to do list last Easter, lets see if they magically appear for Easter 2015.

5. Kids Reversible Fabric Apron Kit; A Christmas gift from my mum. It's a size 2-3 and Sophie won't be 2 until December 2015... A good excuse to get out my sewing machine.

6. Card Table Tent. I have the card tables, I have the pattern and the sewing machine. All I need is to pick a theme and get to work...Probably should get some fabric too.

7. Crochet Cake Kit by Suzanne Houghton Designs. This was a Christmas gift from my husband (after a hint!) an incentive to get me crocheting.

8. Baby Cardi pattern from Bendigo Woollen Mills. I've had the wool and pattern sitting there for probably six months now. It's time to get knitting on this one.

9. Crochet fruit buddies, adorable! From Mollie Makes issue 44. Pattern is sitting in the drawer, I have more crochet hooks than I can point a knitting needle at,  and I will, I will crochet...

10. Heart cookies. I really want to have a good crack at some fancy royal icing on cookies for the heart themed Birthday. 

11. Fabric dollhouse tutorial by UK lass in US. There are so many different things you could do with this one. I am a bit scared about tackling it, but am determined to give it a go.

12. Snowflake Christmas Tree Skirt Tutorial by katbaro. We didn't use our Christmas tree skirt in 2014, it's pretty naff. Fluorescent red with a few ironed on snowflakes. It's time we classed up Christmas. 

So watch this space and watch out 2015! You can join in at any time, all you have to do is make your list and get making. Good luck.